In Loving Memory of Duncan Boyd Oliver

With heavy hearts, the family of Duncan Boyd Oliver shares the news of his passing at the age of 87 on June 10th.

Born in 1938 to Donald Oliver and Alline Phelps, Duncan was a devoted brother to Lee Lombard and Jason Oliver. He cherished and often shared stories of growing up in Haverhill and Sharon, MA, bringing to life the era before WWII. Though his family joked that his fondness for mayonnaise sandwiches wasn’t due to wartime rationing.

From as early as the fourth grade, Duncan hoped that Carol would notice him. The wait made for a wonderful time growing up, he would say, and eventually, they started dating later in high school—the beginning of a lifetime of love and companionship.

Duncan earned his degree from Bowdoin College in Maine, later pursuing a master's degree in history from Boston University. But no matter where his academic journey took him, he always remained a proud Polar Bear.

Though he initially served his country as a tank company commander with the Army and NATO forces in Germany in the 60s, his heart led him to a career in education—his second great passion after Carol. He dedicated 34 years to the Easton Public Schools, with one of his proudest achievements being the designation of Oliver Ames High School as a Top 100 school in the nation in 1986. Even when retiring in 1999, after 21 years as Principal of OA, his passion for education continued through special programs in Yarmouth.

Duncan’s love for history shaped countless family vacations—where historical landmarks often took priority to his daughter’s dismay — which led to years of dedicated service to the Easton and Yarmouth Historical Society’s, including time as both member and president of both organizations. He was also an enthusiastic participant in the Lincoln Group of Boston. Alongside his close friend Jack Braggington-Smith, Duncan co-authored several books and contributed articles to Cape Cod Life, Cape Cod Times, the Yarmouth Historical Society of old Yarmouth, and the Yarmouth Port Library. 

Following retirement in 1999, Duncan traveled with Carol and close friends to over 50 countries across six continents— though his family often teased that simply sailing past Antarctica didn’t quite qualify as visiting all seven continents. Winters in Florida were spent shelling with Carol or fishing with his son-in-law Sean, but his greatest joy remained casting a line or simply being with his grandsons, Cameron and Grant. He joked that he wanted his epitaph to read “The stripers feared his coming’ but in truth they show utter distain.”

Over his 87 years, Duncan blessed his family with many valuable lessons—but none more important than the love of family and togetherness. He is survived by his beloved wife, Carol Geissler, with whom he shared 65 years of marriage; his daughter Kim Juric and her husband Gordon of Cataumet, MA; his daughter Jen Oliver and her husband Sean Stuart of Monument Beach, MA; his grandsons Cameron Juric and his fiancée Abby Moore of Burlington, MA; and Grant Juric and his significant other Shannon Glynn of Chicago, IL.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to Duncan’s medical team and the VNA, whose care gave them the precious gift of more time together over the past two years.

The family will honor Duncan’s life in a private ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Yarmouth Port Library https://www.yarmouthportlibrary.org/ or the Historical Society of Old Yarmouth https://www.hsoy.org/, continuing Duncan’s legacy of kindness and generosity.